at big black Whale.

He crept up with his big harpoon,
Brave boys!
That monster to impa-a-a-ale,
And stubbornly he kep' on
A hurling of his weapon,
Till he managed to hit that Whale,
Brave boys!
He managed to prick that Whale.

Then he thought he'd done a mighty clever thing,
Brave boys!
But the Whale gave a fhwisk! with his ta-a-a-ail,
And then vanished from his view,
_With the harpoon wot he threw_,
And WILL-I-AM nearly followed that Whale,
Brave boys!
Wos werry near to _following_ that Whale:

Then WILL-I-AM the Whaler looked dumfoozled,
Brave boys!
And _I_ sings out--a being within ha-a-a-il--
"I told you, noble Cap'en,
Exactly wot would happen!"
So--he didn't catch that Whale,
Brave boys!
_No--he never caught that Whale!_

* * * * *

"NAMES AND THEIR MEANING."--_A propos_ of some correspondence in the
_Morning Post_ under the above heading, we would ask, Why not make the
Second Chief Commissioner for the Behring Straits Difficulty, Mr. SEALE
HAYNE, M.P., with Lord SAY AND SELE to speak on the subject, and then sign
the official documents?

* * * * *

MRS. R. has heard much lately about the "Sandringham Stud" and the "St.
Andrews Links," both of which, she understands, are very large. She can't
make out how gentlemen prefer them to nice, neat little shirt-buttons!

* * * * *

[Illustration: A BROTHER PASTELLIST.

[Messrs. GOUPIL admit Artists and Students free to Mr. WHISTLER'S
Exhibition.]

_Gatekeeper (stopping squalid Stranger)._ "NOW THEN, WHAT DO YOU WANT?"

_S.S._ "COME TO SEE JIMMY'S SHOW." _Gatekeeper._ "ONE SHILLING,
PLEASE!"

_S.S._ "NOT ME! I'M A ARTIST--CORNER O' BAKER STREET--CHALKS. LE'MME
THROUGH!" [_Chucked!_]

* * * * *

"Signs" of the Times.

["He was brought up to speak in the ante-stumping era."--_Lord Rosebery
on Lord Granville._"]

You do well, my dear Lord, to spread GRANVILLE'S renown.
Knightly, loyal, and courteous to monarch or clown,
He had pluck, and swift speech, though no mere Party Pump.
To our late platform level he hardly worked down;
But the popular sign of _his_ day was "The Crown,"
Of _ours_ 'tis "The Magpie and Stum